People are so accustomed to seeing me in a suit that they only see the formal side of me but actually I am really happy messing around in the garden or doing jobs at home – sadly commitments to Fellows sometimes makes this difficult,” says Stephen Whittaker, shedding light on the story behind his Hot 100 portrait.

He recently re-homed a black Labrador for Guide Dogs for the Blind and although she is a ‘lady of leisure’, she loves coming into the office to help the staff out with their lunch sandwiches!

There she is greeted by many friendly and familiar faces, including Stephen’s twin daughters, who have just joined the auctioneer’s London office and represent the sixth generation of the business.

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“Having two more members of the family in the firm shows our family commitment to our clients but also to our staff in terms of continuity for the future of the firm,” comments Stephen, who declines to claim any personal credit for the success of Fellows.

“We have a great team of highly motivated individuals and my role is to help them deliver their skills to our ever growing audience,” he stresses.

Fellows has once again expanded both the number of jewellery auctions it holds and the service it provides this year, resulting in the business reaching new commercial heights. The progress all boils down to that fierce team ethic, says Stephen.

“Our achievements of the last 12 months are simply based on the hard work of a great team who are passionate about doing their jobs well. If they continue to be motivated then the success continues.”

Even when he is not officially at work, Stephen lives and breathes the jewellery industry. “I am quite involved in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham in both the BID and the JQ Development Trust and have a passionately held belief in ‘Brum’s Jewellery Quarter’ as a centre of tradition and excellence,” he says.